The lefties are all having massive panty wetting moments with attacks on Mike Hosking and now Paul Henry.

Mediawatch, the lefty luvvies at Red Radio devoted their programme to Hosking but haven’t mentioned a peep about the drug death in Cambodia of a senior Herald journalist.

Apparently having an opinion that differs from theirs or John Drinnan’s is evil.

The BSA pointed to “litmus test” research last year which found people were so accustomed to Hosking’s on-air editorialising most people would immediately recognise it as mere opinion.

“Anyone thinking that’s a fact would either be on drugs – or doesn’t like Hosking,” one person told the BSA.

“In reality we can’t generalise from the results of a small sample to understand the likely impact of airing repeated opinions night after night from a state broadcaster on the attitudes of a wider population,”

She said she regretted bringing the complaint because she believed the ruling gave strength to the argument that a presenter in a prime time news show could be both “inaccurate” and “dismissive” if comment was pitched as opinion. Read more »

A huge shake-up is under way at the New Zealand Herald with several high-profile names facing redundancy, SCOUT has learned.

On Wednesday, staff at NZME – owners of the Herald – were invited to attend a company presentation announcing expansion plans to integrate its print, digital and radio news teams in a 24/7 operation. Lunch was served and staff were feeling positive. Read more »

It’s a bit whingy and uses stupid terms like neoliberalism, but he is probably the first lefty to recognise some cold hard facts.

WHEN IT COMES TO RATINGS, Mike Hosking is a winner. He knows it, his employers know it, and, if they’re honest with themselves, the Daily Blog’s firebrands know it too. What he says to Newstalk-ZB’s listeners is, for the most part, well received. Which is why Newstalk-ZB’s breakfast show is the most popular product on commercial radio. Seven Sharp’s viewers, likewise, are insufficiently offended by Hosking’s opinions to change channels. And that’s all anyone has to do, FFS – if they don’t like or approve of Hosking’s shtick – change the bloody station or switch channels. Their forbearance, in the case of Seven Sharp, is what made the programme roughly twice as popular as Campbell Live.

If Chris was honest he could say the same thing about Whaleoil and our readership which is more than all the other blogs in New Zealand combined. There is a reason for that, and it is the same reason as he states above. It is also the reason why the left wing want to take us all down…we are effective, articulate and winning. That is why they resort to criminal actions, false Police complaints and complaints to IRD…using the forces of the state they despise to bully and intimidate.

Though it pains the Left to admit it, Campbell Live was a vehicle for values shared by fewer and fewer New Zealanders. Thirty years of neoliberal hegemony will do that to a country. The social-democratic culture in which Kiwis over 50 were raised, while very far from being dead, can be accessed now only through the indistinct portals of nostalgia. By contrast, the culture which succeeded it, whatever people choose to call it, is everywhere you look. Love it or hate it, this is the culture we are all required to move and function in: the culture that counts.

It creates a near-monopoly of male broadcasters who are shaping our perspectives, directing the course of interviews, setting the news agenda and, ultimately, influencing our opinions and point of views.

The six men are Guyon Espiner, Duncan Garner, John Campbell, Paul Henry, Larry Williams and Mike Hosking. I have worked with all of them, to varying degrees. Each and every one is a brilliant broadcaster. That is not in question. It never was.

But my position on Friday – and it’s the same position today – is that New Zealand society isn’t straight, white and male. So prime time radio, which achieves the greatest audiences, should not be straight, white and male either. It must reflect diversity of perspective, gender and culture.

This is not a witch hunt. It’s just a conversation. How did we get here? And how might we change it, in future? The best person should always get the job – a quota would be abhorrent.

Hard to tell the difference, but I think his incompetence leads to him appearing mad.

Is he out to lunch or out of touch?

Last Thursday he was definitely out to lunch.

Is David Cunliffe deluded or living in a parallel universe?

Deluded. No doubt.

I grant you he’s in a precarious position and you have to offer some sort of explanation each time a poll comes out that shows you bad news. But by the time he’s offered the excuses then buggered off skiing, he starts to look like a bloke who either doesn’t care or doesn’t get it or both.

To want to be a leader of a country is an all-consuming passion. You must want it so badly you can taste it. Despite what we so often say about politics and politicians, by and large the ones that get to the top are dedicated, professional, talented and know a long day when they see one.

Cunliffe’s job is not to lose wondering. Cunliffe’s job is to inspire those who support him and give them hope that September 20 won’t be a disaster. Cunliffe’s job is to lead from the front, to be the inspiration, to be the ‘go to’ figure, to give the membership the sense that anything is possible, that the race is winnable, that the path chosen is the right one. Winning breeds winning. Success breeds success. Inspiration is contagious. Cunliffe shows none of these qualities, especially when he’s not even at work. Read more »

Join Rachel Smalley, Josie Pagani, Barry Soper and some guy called Cam Slater on The Cauldron. Rachel is sitting in for Larry while he’s having some well deserved time off. Greg Boyed will sit in over the next two weeks.

Topics today may include:

1. Should Key name and shame the diplomat?

2. National Party Conference / Roading announcement

3. TV3 and One news/ Colmar Brunton Polls show Labour heading sub-30% yet better for Labour than other recent polls

4. McCully to stand aside in East Coast Bays if asked

5. Logging of windfelled trees on the West Coast. Two Labour MPs crossed the floor.